Outbreak of niceness threatens to stifle debate

A little birdie tells me that someone on the National Union of Journalists' (NUJ) new media council thinks there is too much negativity on the union's email discussion lists. Apparently it's a big turnoff for the younger folk and there is talk about introducing a set of guidelines on how to conduct debates.

Oh dear.

First off, we are a nation of whingers - but that is not a bad thing. It's a national hobby, like discussing the weather, and is actually quite cathartic. Especially if you happen to work in isolation as many freelance journalists and photographers do. The chance to get together and have a good moan is a great way to let off steam and is part of creating a community.

Secondly, how exactly do you have a debate without an opposing view? It is sometimes actually a matter of good manners to argue the opposite point, even if you don't necessarily believe what you are arguing. Debate refines arguments, and good debate more often than not results in better policies or strategies. Of course some arguments can never be resolved, but those that follow them will be the better informed for doing so.

So back to the NUJ. The email lists it runs are only open to NUJ members and, even then, quite difficult to access. So not a great recruitment tool then. Meanwhile other, open lists, flourish and do a great deal more to get some of the messages of the NUJ across to working journalists and photographers, thanks to the active participation of NUJ members who have become frustrated with their union's progress on the web. Worse still, in this vacuum bulletin boards have sprung up offering "advice" to young journalists and wannabes; advice that is often of a dubious, ill-informed quality and with a hidden commercial agenda.

The NUJ needs to move fast to reclaim this ground. The union is the best-qualified body to offer advice (it also has a great training programme) and needs to embrace the web's community-building tools to recruit young journalists to its ranks. That means open access, the active participation of NUJ officers and realistic, informed advice and debate.